1. Un Descenso Significativo en las Cifras.
Datos de diversas fuentes, incluyendo los CDC, muestran una caída histórica en las muertes por sobredosis en EE. UU. durante el período 2023-2024, revirtiendo una tendencia al alza de cinco años. Las reducciones se reportan en porcentajes de dos dígitos, salvando miles de vidas.
- The u.s. Is seeing a historic drop in deaths from the street drug fentanyl. From june 2023 to june 2024, deaths dropped by roughly 14.5%, translating into more than 16,00 lives saved.
- U.s. Died of drug overdoses in 2024—a 27% drop, with about 30,00 fewer deaths than in 2023 and "more than 81 lives saved every day.".
- Fatal overdoses from fentanyl and other street drugs have plummeted nationally by 21 per cent since june 2023.
- Fentanyl overdose deaths have been declining for 11 straight months, and now stand 20% below their 2023 peak.
- “fentanyl was involved in over 76,00 deaths in 2023, according to the new statistics, but just over 48,00 in 2024.”.
2. Factores Clave Detrás de la Disminución.
Expertos y reportes atribuyen la caída a una combinación de factores, incluyendo una aplicación de la ley más estricta, la reducción de la potencia del fentanilo en las calles, una mayor disponibilidad de naloxona (medicamento para revertir sobredosis) y la expansión de programas de tratamiento y prevención.
- Better law enforcement and reduced fentanyl potency (70% to 50% in counterfeit pills) are making a difference.
- Drug researchers attribute that to: - stepped up law enforcement action under the biden administration - more widespread availability of the overdose reversal medication naloxone.
- Drug overdose deaths down for 7 straight months why? -funding for treatment/prevention/harm reduction (test strips, narcan) -street potency has gone down in part to biden’s deal w china to stop flow of fentanyl precursors.
- Experts think wider access to overdose-reversal drugs like naloxone, easier use of treatments like methadone, and changes in drug use could be behind the drop.
- The drop in overdose deaths is likely due to: -increased access to naloxone, which reverses and opioid overdose. -more access to medications like buprenorphine and methadone that reduce overdose risk. -funding for treatment and recovery. -wider access to fentanyl test strips.
3. Contexto Actual y Desafíos Emergentes.
A pesar de la notable mejoría, las muertes por sobredosis siguen siendo más altas que hace una década. Además, mientras las muertes por fentanilo disminuyen, se observa un preocupante aumento en las fatalidades relacionadas con estimulantes como la metanfetamina y la cocaína.
- However, overdose deaths remain higher than a decade ago, with the crisis intensifying during the pandemic.
- New: cdc data released today shows a 27% decrease in drug overdose deaths in 2024 compared to the year prior, as fentanyl deaths plummet but deaths involving stimulants like meth and cocaine increase.
- While fentanyl overdose deaths are declining, there’s an increase in cocaine trafficking as cartels increase production.
- Drug overdose deaths fell sharply in 2024, as fentanyl cases dropped but meth spiked.
- Some states saw increases in overdose deaths - particularly those in the northwest & west – places where fentanyl only arrived recently.